There was a massive traffic jam on the M5 – but a string quartet performed Pachelbel’s Canon and made it all better

14 September 2015, 10:35

Hundreds of travellers were brought to a standstill on one of the UK’s busiest motorways this weekend – because a horse was on the loose. But then a string quartet appeared and played Pachelbel

Among the many people stuck in stationary traffic on the M5 this weekend were four musicians.

While everyone else was going through the stages of traffic jam rage (anger, denial, nihilism, acceptance you're going to miss that party etc), this string quartet decided to entertain the crowd with a performance of Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

A horse escaped on the M5 today on our way back from Devon, causing a complete stand-still and a string quartet to play :)

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the cellist in the video – Alison Gillies of the Bristol Ensemble – said: "We were on our way back from playing at someone's wedding and we got caught up in the traffic jam, then one of the quartet jokingly suggested it and we thought why not?"

Lu Jeffrey, one of the violinists who performed in the memorable impromptu concert, told the paper: "It was a lovely moment, one the quartet will treasure. 'Between us we have played some of the most incredible concert venues globally and the one afternoon you play the M5 it all goes crazy."

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